It is not commitment or responsible ownership if owners surrender their pets for the ff. reasons:

- financial difficulty, no budget- lack of time- lack of space- pets not allowed in the house or transfer of residence that will not allow pets- health/allergy reasons- biting incident- "bad" behavior- pet is sick / too many ticks and fleas- pet is old- pet keeps getting pregnant and giving birth (too many pets)- new infant/child in the household- other household members/landlord/landlady/neighbors do not want the pet around- leaving current residence to go back to the province or leaving the country

The usual response we get from owners who want to give up their pets when they are told that the shelter cannot take their pets is that "it is better for them to be at PAWS rather than they be sold/killed for the dog meat trade, left/thrown on the streets to fend for themselves, given to someone who won't take care of the pet, or die from lack of care which cannot be provided".

We would like to correct this. The only way a dog/cat can be left on the streets to fend for themselves is if the pet owner abandons them or leaves them there (this, by the way, is a violation of The Animal Welfare Act). The only way a dog can be accessed by the dog meat trade (for katay or pulutan) is if:

the owner leaves them unsecured in the property*

the owner leaves them unleashed and running loose in the streets*

the owner sells them to be killed or they are sold to dog meat traders***

the dogs are stolen

the dogs are strays

* The first 2 can be prevented by the pet owner by ensuring that the pet does not stray unleashed or unaccompanied from the home. The Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 also states that pet owners must keep their pets on a leash in public places at all times and secured/properly fenced inside their homes, otherwise, authorized catchers of the city pound may take the animal and if unclaimed at the pound within the allotted holding period, can be euthanized.

* If an owner releases their pet into the streets (ang "pagligaw") because he/she does not want to exert efforts in responsibly rehoming them, know that this action is actually subjecting his pet to cruel circumstances such as becoming exposed to the elements and becoming a victim of hit-and-run and other cruel acts.

* Abandonment of a pet is a criminal offense under the Amended Animal Welfare Act (RA 10631).

*** Selling a dog or killing a dog for the dog meat trade for katay or pulutan is a crime and a violation of The Animal Welfare Act and The Anti Rabies Act. Owners can report these people and file charges so that offenders can go to jail. Read HOW TO REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY.

Pet owners who sincerely love their pets can take PROACTIVE options that they can exhaust before asking an animal welfare org or shelter to take their pets such as:

a) spaying/neutering their pets so they do not multiply (Refer to: Spay/Neuter)b) not transferring to a residence where pets are not allowed,c) treating a dog's mange or ticks or illness with vet-prescribed medication (Refer to FAQ: Sick pet)d) confining the pet in a comfortable ample-spaced area and away from the person who is allergic or away from the infant (Refer to: FAQ: Babies and Pets)e) attend training/behavior classes with their dog to find out the root cause of the behavior problem and find a training solution with the help of trainers/instructors (Refer to FAQ: Behavior Concerns)f) prepare months in advance if they know they are transferring residence or leaving the country and they cannot bring their pets,g) ON THEIR OWN, they can seek out trustworthy and responsible friends, relatives, neighbors who are willing and able to care for their pets.h) Or arrange for temporary rehoming & care if the reasons stated are temporary in nature as well.

By accepting owned pets for the above reasons, PAWS will be giving owners a free pass or easy way out of their responsibilities. When they know they can resort to this without consequence, this will only encourage more irresponsible pet owners to do the same.

PAWS will not accept donations or compensation in exchange for taking in one's pet.

PAWS does not accept pets as "donations". Donations are meant to help an organization, and adding one more mouth to feed and another animal to care for just because the owner cannot uphold his/her responsibility as a pet owner will not help PAWS.

PAWS is a non-government org that relies on public donations and volunteers to run its operations. Space, resource, funds and manpower are limited.

There is an overwhelming need to correct the common misconception that PAWS is the one adopting pets. NO. Rather PAWS is the one who adopts out its rescued animals in the shelter to viable & worthy adoption applicants. (Refer to Adoption Process)

NOTE: PAWS is not like the animal cops or SPCA orgs that you see on tv that will accept pets who are no longer wanted or who can no longer be cared for --- those orgs are funded by their govt and are supported by their police... they have the funds, space, resources and the manpower to take in abandonments.

PAWS discourages the public misconception that the shelter is a repository or dumping ground for pets that owners want to give up.

There is no animal welfare organization in the country that accepts, adopts or absorbs pets. The only place that will accept pets and abandonment cases is the city pound -- where there is no assurance of humane treatment, proper feeding or humane living conditions during the holding period and where there is no assurance that the dogs/cats will be humanely euthanized (some pounds still practice the illegal Tambucho Gassing).

The shelter is still relatively a stressful environment compared to a home. Some pets suffer from depression or lose appetite when separated from owners or taken away from familiar home environment.

PAWS aims to help owners help themselves.

3 THINGS PAWS CAN DO TO HELP OWNERS KEEP THEIR PETS

counselling pet owners/guardians on the ff: spay or neuter (to prevent reproduction, improve aggressive behavior), allergies/fear of communicable diseases and remedies, and suggestions on how to make landlords, neighbors, barangay or family members more accepting of the animals

offer suggestions to manage/address behavioral problems

offer low cost veterinary service & spay/neuter surgery

What PAWS can do to help pet owners, WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED EFFORTS ABOVE, find a good home for their pets:

Rehoming Assistance (click) - this will be through advertising in existing social networking sites provided your pets meet the ff. criteria:

Pet owner has exhausted all options to rehome his/her pet on his own and has posted their rehoming plea in their own website/blog/Facebook

Pet is healthy and with updated vaccination records

Pet is spayed/neutered

Pet is non-aggressive/no behavior problems (Owner has to treat the animal at his own expense or put efforts in behavior rehabilitation before expecting that an animal can be successfully rehomed. He should not expect a charity organization to subsidize this expense as the organization is already trying to help him out with advertising and screening of potential adopters for his pet on top of its regular work for numerous animals in need.)

Note: Pet waits in the owner's home and not at PAWS until the pet has been successfully rehomed.